Planning to own a mobile app for your business, but feeling baffled about whether to hire a freelance app developer or a professional Mobile app development company? Worry not! Let’s explore an honest comparison between hiring a freelancer and a well-established company.
In this blog, we will discuss the benefits and disadvantages of both procedures. After reading this blog, the readers will be able to make an informed decision. So, without wasting any time, let’s get straight to the main topic of our discussion.
Benefits of Hiring Freelance App Developers Over An App Development Company
Android or iOS, today freelance app developers are available for both kinds of mobile applications. Especially, if you are looking for Android App Development Services, then finding a Freelancer is quite easy.
According to the latest stats, presently, there are over 5.9 million Android app developers in the world. Whereas, there are around 2.8 million iOS app developers. So, hiring a freelance app developer is not a tough job.
Many small and new businesses prefer Freelance app developers over professional companies due to various benefits. If you are choosing a freelancer, you unlock the benefits below:
#1 You Get Dedicated Developer
Freelancers live at their own free will! They are not bound by any contract or job agreement. Therefore, they often prefer a work-life balance.
As a result, Freelance app developers often work on one project at a time. Therefore, when you choose a freelancer, you automatically get a dedicated app developer for your project.
#2 You Get Personalised Services
Furthermore, as we stated above, freelancers work on one project at a time, and consequently, you get personalised services. However, companies can also provide you with tailored and personalised solutions.
But, companies follow a hierarchy and you may or may not get the opportunity to directly connect with the developer.
However, when you hire a freelance app developer, you get an opportunity to connect with him/her directly. So, you can have personalised and dedicated services.
#3 You Get High-Quality Service ( If The Freelancer is Reliable Enough)
With Freelancing services, you also unlock ‘specialised’ talent. Generally, Freelancers are also experienced app developers. Usually, after years of working at some reputed organisation, a freelancer gains the confidence to operate independently.
Therefore, choosing a freelance app developer also ensures that you get a well-experienced developer. However, you just need to ensure that the chosen freelancer is reliable enough and well-trained in mobile platforms like Android Studio and the required programming languages.
#4 You Get A Better App Development Cost
When you choose a freelance mobile app developer, you save a great deal on the development cost. Freelancers offer competitive prices in the market. Especially, you get much lower prices than an app development agency.
Sometimes, the cost of hiring a freelancer is also better because there are no taxes included when dealing with a freelancer. So, you can save like hell by hiring a freelance app developer!
#5 You May Communicate Anytime
Freelancers are individuals operating independently. So, no protocol and no hierarchy. You may connect with them at any time. Generally, when dealing with a freelancer, things are less formal and more personalised.
Therefore, you get the freedom to connect with them as a friend. However, that will also depend upon your interpersonal skills and bonding with the chosen freelancer.
A freelancer may be a freelancer as he/she might have some other obligations as well. Like higher studies or maybe some health concerns. So, it will depend upon the freelancer’s approach towards his work.
Disadvantages of Hiring Freelancers for App Development
However, choosing freelancers for your Mobile App Development project can also have some disadvantages. Some anecdotal ones will include:
#1 Lack of Trust
Choosing a freelance developer can sometimes also land you in hot water. Picking a freelance developer from open-source hiring platforms like LinkedIN, Freelancer, Upwork and more may or may not get you fully reliable developers.
How will you get sure of their qualification and skills without knowing them fully? Although, if you are also a techie and looking for just help, you can interview the freelancer. But what if you are naive in technology?
#2 Absence of NDA
Furthermore, when you choose a freelance developer, you might lack a No Disclosure Agreement (NDA) documentation procedure with him/her.
Eventually, if you are about to bring a new or ‘first of its kind’ product to the market, the safety of your idea might be at stake. However, we will advise you to discuss this situation with the chosen app developer.
#3 Possibilities of Forgery
Choosing random mobile app developers can also be risky sometimes because this condition is like trusting a stranger without any background verification.
Not only that you can’t be sure of their qualification, skills, and expertise, also you may not be sure that your unique app idea is safe in their hands.
Additionally, who knows whether after making a payment, you will be getting the app delivered. So, it is very risky.
#4 Hard to Monitor
In case you hire a freelancer, there is only one person acting as the developer and project manager.
Freelancers work with a free mind and if the chosen one is not sincere, deadline breaches will be normalised.
Therefore, in this case, you may not be able to monitor their progress and your project delivery also remains at stake.
#5 No Post-Development Support
Mobile app development is a full-fledged process that does not end after writing the app code.
After writing the code, it needs testing, deployment or upload and launch on the respective platform (Google Play Store or App Store), along with regular updates and maintenance services.
Alas, in the case of hiring freelancer app developers, you may not get the required post-development support services. So, choose carefully.
Benefits of Hiring A Professional App Development Company
On the contrary, you can also hire a professional mobile app development company for your Android, iOS, or Cross-Platform project. Enlisting the benefits of hiring a professional app development company, you may consider the following ones:
#1 You Get More Resources, Better Project Management
When you hire a professional mobile app development company for your project, they will allocate not just 1 developer but the entire development team.
In the team, you will get a dedicated sales representative, graphic designer (for app design), front-end and back-end developers, and also one project manager.
When the entire team works on one project dedicatedly, it is quite obvious that you get smoother project management.
#2 You Get Verified Employees
Furthermore, companies hire app developers, designers, and all the other resources after robust screening. They verify their qualifications and also test their skills before hiring them.
This way, when you choose a company, you unlock verified staff members you can bank upon. You do not need to check their qualifications or skills as they are already verified by their employers.
#3 You Get NDA Assurance
Companies are registered legally and hence they work under legal guidance. As a result, app development companies always provide NDA-assured services.
An NDA binds a company and its employees legally to maintain project confidentiality. Therefore, your unique app development idea remains secure in the hands of a registered company.
#4 You Get Post-Development Maintenance Services
Choosing a professional company also paves the way for lifetime maintenance services. Remember that every mobile application solution requires regular updates, bug fixes, and troubleshooting management services.
Therefore, it is better to hire a professional team of developers who also provide post-development launch support and technical maintenance services. You will be tension-free throughout the lifespan of the app.
#5 You Get Regular Project Updates
A professional company is always timebound and follows a protocol. Not only the Project Manager will take regular updates from the team. But you too can connect during working hours at regular intervals.
Weekly, once in fortnight, or once in a month, you can connect with the development team from time to time and take regular updates of the project. Unlike the case of a free-willed freelancer.
Disadvantages of Hiring a Mobile App Development Agency
Choosing a mobile app development agency over freelance developers will not come without flaws. Rather, this too will have some disadvantages. To list a few ones, have a look at the following:
#1 Higher Mobile App Development Cost
Certainly, a company will provide you with the most tailored solutions, as a result, they will also charge higher service costs. Since, in case you hire a professional team, they will allocate multiple resources to one project.
Therefore, the cost of development will go higher. Additionally, do not forget about the corporate taxes and service charges as well. These will also increase the cost of development.
#2 Long Documentation Procedure
Companies do everything professionally and hence document everything. Not only the NDA but also the Initial Business Proposal, Scope of Work, Product Design and Specifications, and many more kinds of documents.
Believe it, you will spend almost 1 month in documentation and finalisation of the deal. So, if choosing a company over a freelance developer, remember that you will have to go through a robust documentation process as well. However, it will have its own benefits.
Freelancers Vs Mobile App Development Company: The Final Verdict
Based on the discussion above, let’s compare quickly both options and draw a conclusion:
- Choosing a Freelance developer can save you a great deal of development costs,
- However, you might have to compromise a little bit of the product quality (if you’re unlucky enough to get a reliable freelance developer).
- Finalising the deal with the developer is easy and free of time-consuming documentation process but
- What if you fall prey to a fraudulent or unprofessional app developer who does not even bother to deliver your project after taking some part of the payment?
- Choosing a professional app development team comes with legal and professional assurance.
- Therefore, if you are not a pro in judging random strangers, it is better to opt for a development agency.
- However, if you know how to deal with the random stranger developers found on hiring platforms, then congratulations! You are saving a lot of time and cost.
- Additionally, you can get better app designs with a professional agency since the designs will be developed by a professional graphic designer there.
- Choosing a company will be like choosing a bunch of talented people, expert in their own fields who will bring you higher-quality of products.
Final Thoughts
Hiring an app developer can be a bothering task. At one hand you have a golden opportunity to save a great deal of development cost by hiring a freelancer, on the other hand, you can get top-notch product quality and lifetime maintenance and support by hiring a professional agency. Both hiring models have their own pros and cons. All you need is to prioritise what you need and make decisions accordingly.
FAQs
Where Can I Hire a Freelance App Developer From?
To hire freelance app developers, you can go to online platforms like UpWork, Freelancer, and LinkedIn. Especially on platforms like Freelancer and UpWork, you can connect with freelance app developers, hold online meetings and also generate invoice and make payments.
How Much Does a Freelance Android App Developer Charge for a Project?
A freelance Android app developer can charge you around £15 to £30 per hour in the UK depending upon his/her expertise and experience. Higher the experience, higher the cost. However, the cost may also depend upon your project’s complexity. Usually, a developer proficient in Android Studio and Kotlin as the programming language will charge higher.
How Much Does a Freelance iOS App Developer Charge for a Project?
A freelance iOS app developer in the UK can cost anywhere between £20 and £35 per hour depending upon the project complexity and his/her skills, experience, and expertise. The final cost will be calculated as per the project timeline.
How Much Will App Development Cost Me If I Hire an Agency?
If you hire a professional mobile app development company, then they will give you a lump sum project cost estimation. However, the cost will depend upon the project complexity, still an Android app development project can cost between £5,000 and £50,000 whereas, cost to making iOS application can range between £15,000 and £68,000 depending upon the same factors.
